Kate Woodsome is an award-winning journalist and social entreprenuer who covered the Jan.6 2021 attack on the U.S. capitol for the Washington Post. She writes and lectures about the links between democracy and our mental health.

Drawing on global research and independent reporting, Kate Woodsome's presentation will reveal why polarization is not the disease—it's a symptom of collective trauma that creates the conditions for authoritarianism.

Her lecture will explore the following topics: The Hidden Connection Between Personal and Political Health, How We Contribute to the Crisis, Your Role in the Solution, and Turning Stress into Positive Change.

Societies with unhealed wounds are vulnerable to authoritarian exploitation. But trauma is not destiny. Just as individuals can heal from personal trauma, societies can recover their democratic vitality—if we recognize what truly needs treatment. This is not another analysis of “what’s wrong with politics.” It is a hopeful, practical roadmap for both democratic and personal renewal. This talk will change how people think about politics, trauma, and our role in healing a fractured world.